Wheel.



C. E. BRIDGES.

'WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. II, 1912.

1,139,951. i Patented May18, 1915.-

THE NORRIS PETERS CO.. FHOTO-LITHQ. WASHINGTON. D.

The hub is then completed by placing the rings 30, 30 upon its ends, with their notches engaging with the notches in the spokes, and expanding the ends of the tube to retain the rings in place, after which the spokes may be sprung into position within the rim, if they have not previously been placed therein. When the parts are thus assembled, the marginal flanges on the spokes rest in contact with the end portions of the tube 28, as clearly seen in Fig. 6. The notched members 30, 3O constitute securing means in the ends of the hub, by which the inner ends of the spokes are held in fixed relation to the hub. A wheel constructed and arranged as described, possesses sufficient rigidity and strength for a variety of uses without any further securing means whatever, but where greater strength is desired the outer end of'each spoke may be additionally secured to the rim 10, as by rivets 40, 40.

In Fig. 7 is shown the inner or center part of a wheel similar in all respects to that above described, except that the inner end of each spoke, instead of extending transversely of the tubular part of the hub, extends part-way around the hub, being curved at its inner end in the reverse direction to the curve through the rest of its length. As shown in said figure, 4:5 indicates the tubular portion of a hub similar to that above described, from which extend spokes 47, 47, likewise similar to those above described; except that each spoke is reversely curved through a portion of its length 48, 48, at its inner end, thereby overlapping an adjacent spoke. They are similarly notched in their edges and similarly secured in place by rings at the ends of the tube having notched cylindric flanges at their peripheries.

I have shown and described one practical form of my improved wheel; but the same may be variously modified in practice withoutdeparture from the spirit of my invention, and I do not desire to be limited to the exact features of construction illustrated and hereinbefore set forth, except so far as the same may be defined in the appended claims as parts of my invention.

I claim as my invention 1. In a wheel, the combination with a rim, of a plurality of spokes, the inner end portions of said spokes terminating in offset relation to the axis of the wheel, and meeting to form a hub, the inner end of each of said spokes abutting against the lateral surface of an adjacent spoke, and means for rigidly connecting the inner portions of said spokes comprising a continuous connecting member secured to each of said spokes adjacent to their inner ends.

2. In a wheel, the combination with a rim, of a plurality of spokes, the inner end portions of said spokes terminating in offset relation to the axis of the wheel, and meeting to form a hub, the inner end of each of said spokes abutting against the lateral surface of an adjacent spoke, and an annular ring having interlocking engagement with said spokes adjacent to their inner ends.

3. In a wheel, the combination with a rim, of a plurality of spokes, the inner end portions of said spokes terminating in ofl'set relation to the axis of the wheel, the inner end of each of said spokes abutting against the lateral surface of the end portion of an adjacent spoke, an annular ring having interlocking engagement with said spokes adjacent to their inner ends, and a sleeve inserted within the opening formed by the inner end portions of said spokes.

4. In a wheel, the combination with a rim, of a plurality of spokes, each of said spokes terminating at its inner end in offset relation to the axis of said wheel and in abutting relation to an adjacent spoke, an annular ring having interlocking engagement with said spokes adjacent to their inner ends, and a sleeve inserted within the opening formed at the inner ends of said spokes, said sleeve having rigid connection with said annular ring and tangential bearing with the said spokes adjacent to their ends.

5. Ina wheel, the combination with a rim and a hub, of a plurality of spokes bearing tangentially at their ends upon said hub and rim, theinner end of each spoke abutting against the adjacent spoke, and connecting'means rigidly secured to the hub and in interlocking engagement with the margins of said spokes.

6. In a wheel, the combination with a rim and a hub, of a plurality of longitudinally curved spokes, each spoke being curved in cross-section and adapted to partially embrace said rim at its outer end, being widened and-notched at its inner end and having its said inner end rounded to fit against the side face of an adjacent spoke.

7. In a wheel, the combination with a hub and a rim having a convexed inner surface, of a plurality of longitudinally and transversely curved spokes in tangential bearing at their outer ends with said rim, the same fitting withinthe curved outer end portion of the spoke and secured thereto, and the inner end of each of said spokes bearing tangentially upon said hub and in abutting relation to an adjacent spoke, and connecting means in interlocking engagement with said spokes. 1

8. In a wheel, the combination with a rim and a hub, of a plurality of longitudinally curved spokes, each of said spokes bearing tangentially at its inner end upon the hub and in abutting relation to an adjacent spoke, and a radial flange at each end of the hub, each radial flange having an inwardly extending annular flange having in terlocking engagement with said spokes adjacent to their extremities. 1

9. In a wheel, the combination with a rim and a hub, of a .pluralityof longitudinally curved sheet metal spokes, each of said spokes being curved in cross-section and provided with tapering marginal flanges, said flanges being widest at the inner end of said spokes and provided with a plurality of annularly arranged notches, each of said spokes bearing tangentially upon said hub at a point adjacent to its inner end and in abutting relation'at its end with an adjacent spoke, radially extending flanges rigidly connected to the ends of said hub and provided with inwardly extending cylindric flanges and notches formed in the margins of said cylindric flanges having interlocking engagement with the notches of said spokes.

10.In a wheel, the combination with a hub and a rim semicircular in cross-section, of a plurality of longitudinally and transversely curved sheet metal spokes in tangential bearing at their outer ends with the copies of this patent may be obtained for outer end portion of the spoke and secured thereto, and at their inner ends with said hub, each of said spokes extending slightly beyond its point of tangency and in abutting relation with the surface of an adjacent spoke, said spokes, being widest at their inner ends and provided with annularly arranged notches formed in the said flanges, radial flanges rigidly connected at the ends of said hub, provided with inwardly extending cylindric flanges having notches formed in themargins thereof, said notches having interlocking engagement with the notches of the said spokes.

In testimony, as my invention I affix my presence of two witnesses, this 5th March A. D. 1912.

CHARLES E. BRIDGES. V

signature in the five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. 0.?

day of tapering marginal flanges on that I claim the foregoing v 

